Internet Use Behavior and Adolescent Mental Health: The Mediating Effects of Self-Education Expectations and Parental Support

Abstract

Purpose: This study focuses on how Internet use behavior affects adolescents’ mental health and whether self-education expectations and parental support mediate the relationship between Internet use behavior and adolescents’ mental health. Methods: The data for this paper came from the results of the student questionnaire of the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA 2018), which was a structured questionnaire that asked students about their family situation, school life, studies, internet use, and mental health, among other things. A sample of 336,600 children in grades 7–13 was selected for this study. The data were analyzed using STATA version 16 and the theoretical framework was tested using a mediated effects model. Results: The results of the study showed that Internet use behavior made a positive contribution to mental health and the mediating effects of self-education expectations and parental support on the relationship between Internet use behavior and adolescent mental health were all significant. Conclusion: It is recommended that appropriate policies should be formulated to help adolescents use the Internet rationally, and the positive effects of parental support and self-education expectations should be utilized.